Evaluating the Big Ten Basketball’s flop in 2021 NCAA Tournament

There is only one word to describe the Big Ten Basketball’s performance in the 2021 NCAA Tournament: FLOP. How can a conference seem so good and be so highly regarded throughout an entire basketball season, and look so bad in the end? Was the 2020-21 Big Ten just that over-rated?

If that is the case, how can so many people be so wrong for so long—coaches, commentators, sportswriters, and fans alike. Do none of us know what we are talking about? Apparently, we don’t know as much as we think we do. I was just as wrong as everyone else; I thought the Big Ten was easily the best conference in college basketball. March Madness, however, didn’t bear that out at all.

As we look at the conference’s lackluster performance, which program was the biggest disappointment?

Let’s look at the candidates: (in alphabetical order)

Illinois

Okay Illinois fans, I am not picking on you. It just so happens that, alphabetically, Illinois is the first on the list. We’re the Illini the biggest disappointment? Well, it’s hard to argue with a number 1 seed who flames out in the second round to number 8 seed Loyola of Chicago. Granted, the Ramblers were good—really good—and they advanced in the tournament beyond their victory over Illinois, but they should not have been able to send Illinois home that early. That was pretty disappointing.

Iowa

Number 2 seed Iowa also laid an egg in the second round, losing 95-80 to 7 seed Oregon. Considering that Hawkeyes featured Big Ten Player of the Year and Wooden Award winner, Luka Garza, All-Big Ten Second Team player Joe Wieskamp, All-Big Ten Honorable Mention Jordan Bohannon, and All-Big Ten Freshmen Team member Keegan Murray, yet they couldn’t advance past the second round, they have to join the top tier in the discussion of most disappointing.

Maryland

Maryland was a 10 seed, whose 16-13 record managed to get them in the tournament, yet it did so with little to no expectations placed on the Terrapins. They were playing with house money. Their response was to win a first-round matchup against 7 seed UConn, winning,63-54. They fell in the second round 96-77 to the 2 seed, Alabama. That’s not a bad performance review. Honestly, Maryland may be the least disappointing team on this list.

Michigan

The Wolverines had the best showing in the Big Dance, falling 51-49 to very hot 11 seed, UCLA, one game short of the Final Four. Michigan was considered the best team in what was supposed to be the best league in the country, so to not make it to the Final Four is a little disappointing, I guess, but not much.

Michigan State

The Spartans were the first victim of a UCLA team who peaked at the right time. Michigan State did what Michigan State does—it got better as the season went along. Unfortunately for Tom Izzo and Michigan State, the Bruins came out on top of a close 86-80 overtime contest in the First Four. It’s hard to be disappointed when the team who eliminated you from the tournament performs as well as UCLA did. But when you are Michigan State, it is disappointing.

Ohio State

15 seed Oral Roberts. Need I say more? I needn’t, but I will. Yes, Oral Roberts had an amazing run in the NCAA Tournament. That run, however, as far as the Buckeyes are concerned should never have happened. A 2 seed losing to a 15 seed is the epitome of embarrassing, period.

Purdue

Did any of us who aren’t Boiler fans expect Purdue to do anything in the NCAA Tournament? Honestly? Thus, 4 seed Purdue’s 78-69 loss to 13 seed North Texas was not that disappointing really. It’s what Purdue does. They were too good to do it this year, but they didn’t let that stop them.

Rutgers

I don’t think that anyone can be disappointed with Rutger’s performance in the Big Dance. A 10 seed, they lost a close game to 2 seed, and eventual Final Four participant, Houston 63-60 in the round of 32. No shame in that.

Wisconsin

The Badgers won their 8-9 matchup with North Carolina and then proceeded to lose their second-round game 76-63 to the eventual National Champion, Baylor Bears. It’s hard to imagine being too disappointed with Wisconsin’s performance.

BONUS TEAM: Indiana

As an Indiana fan, I have to add this for all the fans of the teams I mentioned above who I probably offended. I know I was hard on some of you, but at least your team could find its way in the tournament, so you could get your heart broken again. My team hasn’t even been able to do that in years.

So there you have it; that is the rundown of the Big Ten’s NCAA Tournament woes. Who was the biggest disappointment? I will leave that to you to judge. Your fandom will probably skew you one way or another just like mine does.

No matter which team you choose, let’s just hope that the Conference can figure it out soon. It’s been far too long since a Big Ten team hoisted a national championship trophy in the air to end a college basketball season. I think we are all ready.